Abstract

Recent literature in couple therapy has demonstrated the effects of physical health on some common presenting problems; however, few studies have considered progress as a construct on its own, irrespective of client-identified presenting problem. The current study used an Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediated Model to determine the connection between each partner's physical health and their own and their partner's self-reported progress in couple therapy, mediated by each partner's emotional regulation. Physical health was measured every four sessions using the Health-Related Quality of Life scale, and progress was measured by the Presenting Problem Progress Questionnaire given each time a couple attended therapy. Emotional regulation was measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation scale. The research questions asked whether healthier people and/or their partners would be more emotionally regulated and therefore experience more progress. Results indicated a significant predictive relationship between individual health and presenting problem progress for males and females; however, neither association was mediated by emotional regulation. Additional results suggested that health may predict emotional regulation for both male and female clients, with female health also predicting variation in male emotional regulation. Clinicians are encouraged to consider client health as a predictor of emotional regulation and create treatment goals that facilitate improvements to client health.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Family Life

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2021-07-30

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd11785

Keywords

actor-partner interdependence mediated model, couple therapy, emotional regulation, physical health, progress

Language

english

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